Empathetic Presence

In this episode of Empathetic Presence, I explore something that's helped my anxiety - how to find the present moment and return to it when we inevitably get lost in thought again.It's particularly challenging to be present right now. With the constant news cycle and daily overwhelm many of us experience, it's natural to slip into hyper-vigilance. Focusing on presence rather than perfection has been transformative for my confidence and reducing anxiety.I share my personal journey from being trapped in an endless cycle of anxiety to finding liberation through presence. For years, I experienced debilitating panic attacks that would send me to the emergency room convinced I was having heart attacks. Over a decade ago, I made a commitment to address my anxiety holistically, which became the foundation for the work I do today.In this episode, I discuss:How I define presence as "getting out of my head and into my body"The scientific connection between the vagus nerve and our "gut brain"Practical techniques I use daily to return to the present momentA guided practice for anchoring to sound that we can experience togetherThe importance of self-compassion when practicing presenceI would love to hear what helps you find presence and what presence means in your life. Please share your thoughts at Lee@presentvoices.com.If you'd like to practice presence with me directly, I host a complimentary live workshop via Zoom where we work on these techniques together. You can register at presentvoices.com/collective.Wishing you presence, not perfection. 00:00 Introduction to Empathetic Presence00:53 The Struggle with Anxiety and the Journey to Presence03:04 Understanding and Practicing Presence04:04 The Role of the Vagus Nerve and Gut Brain06:02 Practical Tools for Finding the Present Moment08:17 The Importance of Being Over Doing08:41 Guided Practice: Anchoring to Sound10:01 Managing Expectations and Using Tools to Stay Present13:38 Conclusion and Invitation to Connect

In this episode, I explore what's truly holding us back from speaking with confidence and introduce a powerful alternative to "executive presence" that can transform how we show up in our most important moments.What You'll Learn:The shocking data: 88-90% of professionals struggle speaking in high-pressure situationsWhy physical and psychological distractions during communication aren't personal failingsHow "executive presence" actually makes us less present and less confidentThe three components of Empathetic Presence: embodied confidence, harnessed empathy, and owned expertiseI've spent a decade collecting data from corporate workshops across nearly every industry, and the pattern is clear: dominant, disconnected leadership isn't helping people speak up. Even at a recent Google Developers event, only 12% of 500 engineers felt comfortable speaking in front of senior leaders.Empathetic Presence offers a different path. Instead of overthinking how we're perceived, we can focus on being fully embodied, leveraging our natural empathy as a strength, and owning our unique expertise - even if we're junior or new to our roles.I'm curious: What do you want to liberate your voice from? And how would you use your voice if you felt fully confident in every setting?Join me next time as we hear from empathetic leaders who are using their voices for impact.Want to experience Empathetic Presence in action? Join my free monthly workshop and learn tools to express yourself in every setting. Register here. 00:00 Introduction to Empathetic Presence 00:21 Understanding Speaking Anxiety 00:32 The Importance of Empathy in Leadership 00:52 Challenging Executive Presence 01:22 About the Host: Lee Bonvissuto 01:57 Data on Speaking Confidence 03:36 Physical and Emotional Distractions 05:09 Systemic and Situational Factors 06:27 Rejecting Executive Presence 07:27 Embracing Empathetic Presence 08:47 Harnessing Empathy and Expertise 11:32 Conclusion and Call to Action